Wireless diagnostic system and method

ABSTRACT

A diagnostic system for an oven chamber, an oven system, and a method of wirelessly monitoring item temperature in an oven chamber are disclosed. In some embodiments, a temperature sensor used for sensing the temperature of an item is moved or transported with the item by a conveyor system. Also, in some embodiments, a wireless transmitter coupled to the temperature sensor can transmit a temperature signal to a receiver located outside of the oven chamber, and can also be moved or transported with the item. Data representative of item temperature can be stored, displayed, and/or used to modulate operation of the oven in some embodiments.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to U.S. patent application Ser. No.11/449,388, filed Jun. 8, 2006, the entire contents of which are herebyincorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND

Numerous automated and semi-automated systems exist for treating partsof all types, shapes, and sizes, including without limitation parts usedin automotive, household goods, machinery, and electronics industries.Such systems can be used to paint (e.g., liquid coating, powder coating,electrocoating, and the like), heat treat, dehydrate, clean, and performa wide variety of other processes upon parts. As used herein, the term“treat” in its various forms refers to any of these processes.

Any of these systems can operate by conveying parts to locations withinthe system at which the parts are treated singularly or in batches. Thesystems can convey parts in any known manner, such as by conveyingindividual parts suspended upon hooks, brackets, wires, or otherfixtures, or by conveying multiple parts in baskets, buckets, racks,pallets, and the like. The parts can be conveyed using any combinationof chain, belt, cable, tabletop, bucket, and other conveyors, systemsemploying hydraulic or pneumatic pistons, slides, rails, vibrationconveyors, and the like. As used herein, the term “conveyor” refers toany device or system adapted to move parts before, during, and/or aftertreatment.

In many cases, it is highly desirable to measure one or more parametersof a part or a part's environment before, during and/or after treatmentof the part. For example, it may be desirable to measure the temperatureof a part being exposed to heat for any purpose. In such cases, it mayalso be desirable to measure the temperatures of two or more locationsof the part. As another example, it may be desirable to measure anyother property (e.g., strain, chemical composition, weight, density, andthe like) of a part. As yet another example, it may be desirable tomeasure one or more properties of the environment around the part, suchas the temperature, fluid flow, humidity or pressure around the part,the acidity of the environment around the part, the presence and/oramount of one or more chemicals or substances in the environment aroundthe part, and the like.

In all such cases, the ability to take accurate part or part environmentmeasurements can be quite limited based upon a number of factors, suchas the environment itself (e.g., an extremely hot, cold, caustic, toxic,or other environment) or movement of the part, treatment system, orconveyor system. Also, many treatment systems employ one or morepartially or fully enclosed chambers that can render precise andaccurate part or part environment measurements difficult.

SUMMARY

In some embodiments, a diagnostic system for an oven chamber withinwhich an item is moved and heated is provided, and comprises atemperature sensor movable with the item in the oven chamber, thetemperature sensor positioned to detect a temperature of the item at afirst location of the item; a transmitter electrically coupled to thetemperature sensor and also movable with the item in the oven chamber; areceiver located remotely from the oven chamber and configured toreceive a wireless signal from the transmitter; and a controller coupledto the receiver and operable to record data indicative of the itemtemperature at the first location based at least in part upon thewireless signal received from the receiver.

Some embodiments of the present invention provide an oven system forheating an item, wherein the oven system comprises a chamber withinwhich the item is heated; a conveyor movable to transport the item into,within, and out of the chamber; a temperature sensor coupled to andmovable with the item, the temperature sensor positioned to detect atemperature of the item; a transmitter coupled to the temperature sensorand configured to transmit a wireless signal comprising datarepresentative of the temperature of the item; and a receiver configuredto receive the wireless signal.

In some embodiments, a method of wirelessly monitoring the temperatureof an item in an oven chamber through which the item is conveyed isprovided, and comprises transporting the item within the oven chamber;sensing a temperature of the item at a first location on the item;transmitting a wireless signal from within the oven chamber to a secondlocation outside of the oven chamber, the wireless signal containingdata representative of the temperature of the item at the first locationon the item; and repeating the transporting, sensing, and transmittingsteps at least once.

Other aspects of the invention will become apparent by consideration ofthe detailed description and accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention is further described with reference to theaccompanying drawings, which show an embodiment of the presentinvention. However, it should be noted that the invention as disclosedin the accompanying drawings is illustrated by way of example only. Thevarious elements and combinations of elements described below andillustrated in the drawings can be arranged and organized differently toresult in constructions which are still within the spirit and scope ofthe present invention.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a conveyor system with a wirelessdiagnostic system according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2A is a schematic view of a wireless diagnostic system according toan embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 2B is a schematic view of a wireless diagnostic system according toanother embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Before any embodiments of the invention are explained in detail, it isto be understood that the invention is not limited in its application tothe details of construction and the arrangement of components set forthin the following description or illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of beingpracticed or of being carried out in various ways. Also, it is to beunderstood that the phraseology and terminology used herein is for thepurpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. The useof “including,” “comprising,” or “having” and variations thereof hereinis meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalentsthereof as well as additional items. Unless specified or limitedotherwise, the terms “mounted,” “connected,” “supported,” and “coupled”and variations thereof are used broadly and encompass both direct andindirect mountings, connections, supports, and couplings. Further,“connected” and “coupled” are not restricted to physical or mechanicalconnections or couplings.

A wireless diagnostic system according to an embodiment of the presentinvention is illustrated in FIG. 1, and is shown installed in a conveyorsystem 20. The conveyor system 20 includes a rail 24 defining aconveyance path and a support 28 transported along the rail 24. Theconveyor system 20 can be or include any of the types of conveyorsdescribed above, and in the illustrated embodiment is a rail-basedsystem along which supports 28 move. One or more items are suspended,contained, or otherwise supported on or in the supports 28. Suchsupports 28 can also be employed in conjunction with other types ofconveyor systems 20 described earlier.

At a location along the conveyance path of the rail 24, atemperature-controlled station (e.g., an oven 32) is provided. The oven32 is a substantially closed chamber in some embodiments, and caninclude any suitable device or system for opening and closing thechamber 33. For example, the oven 32 can be provided with an access door35 movable in any conventional manner between open and closed positions.The oven 32 is provided with or is in communication with a heater (notshown) for heating the chamber 33 and items introduced therein. Any typeof heater can be employed depending at least partially upon the type ofitem treatment desired. For example, the heater can comprise one or moregas, oil, propane, or other fuel-burning heaters, electric (e.g.,infrared) or other radiant heating elements, microwave heaters, steam orforced air heaters in which fluid is heated utilizing any of these typesof heaters, and the like. As used herein, the term “heater” refers toany of such heaters, whether alone or in any combination.

With continued reference to the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 1, thesupport 28 is transported along the rail 24 (e.g., by one or more belts,cables, chains, gear systems, hydraulic or pneumatic actuators, and thelike) such that an item 40 attached to the support 28 is transportedinto and out of the oven 32, being exposed to heat from the heater whileinside the oven 32. The support 28 can be moved in discrete steps orincrements, or alternatively, can be conveyed in a continuous fashion.

In the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 1, the conveyor system 20 extendsthrough the chamber 33. In operation, supports 28 (with any itemsthereon) enter the chamber 33 through a first door or opening 35, andexit the chamber 33 through a second door or opening 37. In otherembodiments, supports 28 and items enter and exit the chamber 33 throughthe same door or opening, such as in applications where a rail 24extends into and out of a common side of the oven 32, and inapplications where supports 28 and items are transported into thechamber 33 in a first direction along the conveyor system 20, aretreated, and then exit the chamber 33 in a reverse direction along theconveyor system 20.

In the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 1, the conveyor system 20 isoriented to move items 40 through the oven 32 along a substantiallyhorizontal path. In other embodiments, this path can have anyorientation or combination of orientations desired, depending in manycases upon the position and orientation of the conveyor system 20. Byway of example, in some embodiments, at least a portion of the conveyorsystem 20 can include a vertically-oriented path for the supports 28,such as in cases where items 40 are dipped in one or more tanks fortreatment (e.g., cleaning, coating, and the like). In such cases, thesupports 28 and items 40 can travel through one or more doors in a topof the oven 32. As another example, at least a portion of the conveyorsystem 20 can move diagonally to change the elevation of supports 28 anditems 40 moving through the oven 32. As yet another example, theconveyor system 20 can be shaped to move supports 28 and items 40through one or more turns before entering, within, and/or after exitingthe oven 32, such as when supports 28 and items 40 move through doors onadjacent walls of an oven 32. Still other conveyor orientations andshapes are possible, and fall within the spirit and scope of the presentinvention.

In many applications, it may be required or preferred to have multiplechambers 33 positioned along the conveyor system 20. The chambers may beadditional ovens 32 of the same or varied type or may alternatelycontain components that treat or process the items 40 in other ways.

The item 40 transported by the conveyor system 20 is a coated metalarticle to be cured in a coating process by heat within the oven chamber33. However, the item 40 can instead comprise any other material orcombination of materials, limited only to the suitability of suchmaterials for withstanding the oven environment. Also, the heattreatment process described in connection with the oven 32 illustratedin FIG. 1 is described herein by way of example only. The oven 32 can beadapted to heat items 40 for any other purpose, such as for heattreatment, aging, potting, baking, dehydration, and the like.

With continued reference to FIG. 1, the wireless diagnostic system(indicated generally at 10) comprises a first temperature sensor 44located in a first location on the item 40. The invention can be adaptedto work with any type of temperature sensor 44 depending at least inpart upon the oven environment. By way of example only, the temperaturesensor 44 can be a thermocouple, resistor sensor, thermistor,semiconductor sensor, and the like.

The temperature sensor 44 illustrated in FIG. 1 is coupled to a wirelesstransmitter 48, which is transported along with the item 40. Thetransmitter 48 can be attached to the support 28 and/or the item 40 in adirect or indirect mounting, as discussed in greater detail below. Thetransmitter 48 is electrically coupled to the temperature sensor 44 viaa wire or cable in the illustrated embodiment. Alternatively, thetemperature sensor 44 and transmitter 48 can be directly coupledtogether, such as by sharing a common circuit board, mount, and/orhousing. The transmitter 48 is operable to receive one or more signalsfrom the temperature sensor 44 indicative of the temperature of the item40 at the first location and subsequently emit a wireless signal to areceiver 56 (see FIG. 2A). The receiver 56 can then relay data to acontroller 60 (such as a computer with internal memory).

In some embodiments, the chamber 33 includes one or more windows 36 of amaterial permeable to the wireless signal to facilitate transmission ofthe wireless signal out of the chamber 33. The windows 36 can be in anydesired locations of the oven 32, such as in one or more walls of theoven 32, in a floor or roof of the oven 32, and the like. In someembodiments, the locations of the windows 36 are dependent at least inpart upon the location(s) of the receiver(s) 56 receiving signalstransmitted by the transmitter 48 (e.g., providing little or noobstruction to transmission of such signals through the windows 36 tothe receiver 46). It should be noted that the term “window” (as usedherein and in the appended claims) does not necessarily mean that thewindow 36 must be transparent or translucent for a viewer. Instead, theterm “window” refers only to structure permitting wireless transmissionof signals from within the oven 32 to one or more locations outside ofthe oven 32.

The temperature sensor 44 and/or transmitter 48 can be electricallycoupled to a battery or other power supply as will be described ingreater detail below. Also, in some embodiments a processor or otherelectronics can be connected to the temperature sensor 44 and/ortransmitter 48 in order to process the signal(s) received from thetemperature sensor 44, such as to amplify, filter, or modify thesignal(s) in any desired manner prior to transmission. By way of exampleonly, an electrical signal received from the temperature sensor 44 canbe processed by converting the electrical signal (provided as a currentor voltage, for example) to a value of temperature on a predeterminedunit scale (e.g. Kelvin, Celsius, Fahrenheit, etc.).

The wireless diagnostic system 10 illustrated in FIG. 2A also has asecond temperature sensor 52 at a second location on the item 40 spacedfrom the first location. The second temperature sensor 52 can be thesame or different from the first temperature sensor 44, and in someembodiments is configured to operate in substantially the same manner asthe first temperature sensor 44 in order to sense a temperature of theitem 40 at the second location.

Although the wireless diagnostic system 10 illustrated in FIG. 2A hastwo temperature sensors 44 and 52, the wireless diagnostic system 10 inother embodiments can have any other number of temperature sensors 44and 52 desired for measuring the temperature of any number of locationsof an item 40. Also or alternatively, the wireless diagnostic system 10can have two or more temperature sensors 44 and 52 for measuring thetemperatures of two or more items 40.

The transmitter 48 receives signals from the first 44 and second 52temperature sensors, and transmits wireless signals corresponding to thereceived signals. In practice, the transmitter 48 may transmit a singlesignal containing data related to the temperatures sensed by the sensors44 and 52 to which the transmitter 48 is coupled. As described above, insome embodiments the transmitter 48 can be provided with a processor orother electronics to process the signals received from the temperaturesensors 44 and 52 before transmitting signals. Such a processor or otherelectronics can be part of the transmitter and/or temperature sensorelectronics, or can be separate from the transmitter and/or temperaturesensor electronics. In other embodiments, signal processing occurs onlyby downstream equipment (described in greater detail below) rather thanprior to transmission. Alternatively, signal processing can occur bothbefore and after signal transmission by the transmitter 48.

In some embodiments, the transmitter 48 is configured to transmitwireless signals at predetermined time intervals. Alternatively or inaddition, the transmitter 48 can transmit such signals at predeterminedpoints in time (e.g., at particular times during the treatment processwithin the oven 32), or can transmit such signals constantly. In stillother embodiments, the transmitter is coupled to a memory in whichsignals to be transmitted can be stored for transmission in batch form.Such a memory (not shown) can also be utilized as a backup feature toprotect against the loss of data transmitted yet not received downstreamin the wireless diagnostic system 10 (e.g. due to environmental noise,obstructions to signal transmission, and the like).

In some embodiments, the transmitter 48 is a radio frequency (RF)transmitter configured to emit RF signals. However, the transmitter 48can be any other type of wireless transmitter desired.

The wireless diagnostic system 10 illustrated in FIG. 2A furthercomprises a receiver 56 positioned outside the oven chamber 33 forreceiving wireless signals transmitted from the transmitter 48. Thereceiver 56 can be electrically coupled to a processor 60 (e.g., of acomputer terminal) and/or to a network, data storage device 61, or aprinter, display, or other peripheral device. In this regard, thereceiver 56 can be connected to a local or wide area network and/or tothe Internet in order to send the received signal information to one ormore desired destinations.

With continued reference to FIG. 2A, the receiver 56 and the processor60 are coupled via a data-sharing cable 62. Electrical signalsindicative of temperatures sensed by the first and second temperaturesensors 44 and 52 on the item 40 are thereby received by the processor60 for display, recordation in the connected data storage device 61,and/or instrument control. In those embodiments having a display, datarepresentative of the temperatures sensed by the first and secondtemperature sensors 44 and 52 can be displayed in any manner desired,such as in real or non-real time, in graphical and/or text format, andthe like.

In some embodiments, the processor 60 can be configured to compare thetemperature data received from the transmitter 48 to one or morethresholds, desired temperature ranges or setpoints, or other operationparameters. In such embodiments, the processor 60 can also be configuredto automatically control operation of the oven 32 and/or conveyor system20 (e.g., to slow, speed up, or stop the conveyor system 20, to increaseor decrease the temperature of the oven 32, and the like), or to alert auser of oven operation or an out-of-spec operational parameter. Forexample, in some embodiments, the processor 60 includes a softwareprogram or electronics configured to output control signals to theheater for modulating the intensity or duration of heat provided by theheater. As another example, such a software program or electronics canbe configured to output control signals to the conveyor system 20 forchanging the speed or manner in which items 40 are moved within the oven32. The wireless diagnostic system 10 can be incorporated into orcommunicate with such a program or electronics for control of the heaterand/or transport system 20 with control signals sent from the processor60. Further opportunities for utilizing the sensed temperature as acontrol parameter are possible, and fall within the spirit and scope ofthe present invention.

With continued reference to FIG. 2A, the transmitter 48 is electricallycoupled to the two temperature sensors 44, 52 and to a power supply 50(e.g., a battery, in some embodiments) and signal processor 51. Thesignal processor 51 can take any form suitable for processing signals tobe transmitted by the transmitter 48, including without limitationprocessor-based electronics, analog circuitry, and the like. In otherembodiments, more or fewer temperature sensors 44 and 52 can beutilized. Also in other embodiments, no signal processor 51 isassociated with the transmitter 48.

A thermally protective enclosure 72 substantially surrounds thetransmitter 48 to insulate the transmitter 48 from potentially harmfultemperatures (and/or other harsh environmental conditions, in thosecases where the wireless diagnostic system 10 is utilized in other typesof treatment systems). The enclosure 72 can be permeable to the wirelesssignal transmitted from the transmitter 48 such that the wireless signalcan be picked up by the remotely located receiver 56. It should be notedthat such a thermally protective enclosure 72 can be utilized to protectany transmitter(s) 48 in any of the embodiments disclosed herein,including the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2A.

The thermally protective enclosure 72 can be provided with a device forcoupling the transmitter 48 to the item 40, support 28, and/or conveyorsystem 20. By this connection, the transmitter 48 can move with the item40 as the item 40 is transported into, within, and/or out of the ovenchamber 33. This ability enables the connected temperature sensors 44and 52 to detect temperatures of the item 40 at different locations inthe oven chamber 33, and in some embodiments even while the item 40 (andtransmitter 48 and temperature sensors 44 and 52) is moving. Such aconnection device can be utilized to couple the transmitter to the item40, support 28, and/or conveyor system 20 regardless of whether thetransmitter 48 is provided with a thermally protective enclosure 72, andregardless of the shape and size of any housing or package in which thetransmitter 48 (and power supply 50 and/or signal processor 51, in someembodiments) is located. In this regard, the device used to couple thetransmitter 48 to the item 40, support 28, and/or conveyor system 20 cando so directly, such as by directly mounting the transmitter to asurface.

The device used to directly or indirectly couple the transmitter 48 tothe item 40, support 28, and/or conveyor system 20 can take a number ofdifferent forms, including without limitation clips, clamps, brackets,fasteners (e.g., screws, bolts, rivets, pins, hooks, magnets, and thelike), straps, wire, inter-engaging elements, and the like.

In the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 2B, the transmitter 48 iselectrically coupled to four sensors 44′, 52′, 64, and 68, and to apower supply 50′ (e.g., a battery, in some embodiments) and signalprocessor 51′. The sensors 44′, 52′ can be temperature sensorsoperationally similar to those described above. The sensors 64 and 68can be additional temperature sensors added to provided additionallocations of temperature monitoring. Alternately, the sensors 64 and 68can be configured to sense various properties of the item or its ambientsurroundings. Exemplary properties that can be sensed include, but arenot limited to, humidity, global or relative position, fluid flow rate,fluid conductivity, and incident vibration. The power supply 50′ andsignal processor 51′ are provided to function in a manner similar tothat described above. A thermally protective enclosure 72′ substantiallysurrounds the transmitter 48′, the power supply 50′, and the signalprocessor 51′ to shield the items from damaging atmospheric conditionswithin the oven chamber 33.

While the invention has been described herein in relation to a transportsystem 20 for moving an item 40 along a conveyance path, a wirelessdiagnostic system 10 adapted for stationary use, but provided asotherwise described and illustrated herein is considered within thescope of the invention. By the same token, the wireless diagnosticsystem 10 can be used to measure ambient temperatures near the item 40in other embodiments. In still other embodiments, a multi-sensordiagnostic system 10 is capable of sensing and transmitting temperaturesof both the item 40 and its surroundings, and falls within the spiritand scope of the present invention.

The embodiments described above and illustrated in the figures arepresented by way of example only and are not intended as a limitationupon the concepts and principles of the present invention. As such, itwill be appreciated by one having ordinary skill in the art that variouschanges in the elements and their configuration and arrangement arepossible without departing from the spirit and scope of the presentinvention.

For example, the wireless diagnostic system 10 can be used inconjunction with a number of other treatment systems or combinations oftreatment systems, including without limitation chillers, refrigerators,or freezers, chemical treatment systems, cleaning systems, assemblylines, and the like. Also, the wireless diagnostic system 10 can be usedin treatment systems having multiple treatment stages and/or chambers 33along which items to be treated are moved by one or more conveyorsystems 20. By way of example only, the wireless diagnostic system 10can be used in a treatment system having a cleaning chamber (e.g., diptank, spray system, and the like), drying chamber, and oven chamber,wherein sensor(s) 44, 52, 44′, 52′, 64, 68 are adapted to sense one ormore parameters of items 40 at one or more stages in the treatmentsystem. Other treatment systems having any number of different stagesfor treatment of items 40 are possible, and fall within the spirit andscope of the present invention.

Items 40 to be treated in any of the treatment systems disclosed hereincan be exposed to air, gasses, liquids, or environments in which anycombination of these media exist. The enclosure 72 described above canbe constructed to be water and/or gas resistant, water and/or gas proof,chemical resistant, shock resistant (impact and/or thermal), and/or canbe adapted to protect the transmitter 48 and other components of thewireless diagnostic system 10 attached to the sensor(s) 44, 52, 44′,52′, 64, 68 in any other suitable manner based at least in part upon theenvironment(s) within the chamber 33.

1. A method of wirelessly monitoring the temperature of an item throughan item treatment process that includes heating the item in an ovenchamber through which the item is conveyed, the method comprising:providing a temperature sensor; providing a transmitter coupled to thetemperature sensor to receive a signal from the temperature sensor, thetransmitter positioned within an enclosure that is at least one of gasproof and water proof; transporting the item within the oven chamber;sensing a temperature of the item at a first location on the item;transmitting a wireless signal from within the oven chamber to alocation outside of the oven chamber, the wireless signal containingdata representative of the temperature of the item at the first locationon the item; and repeating the transporting, sensing, and transmittingsteps at least once.
 2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:receiving the wireless signal at the location outside of the ovenchamber; and storing data representative of the temperature of the itemat the first location in a memory.
 3. The method of claim 1, furthercomprising sensing a temperature of the item at a second location on theitem.
 4. The method of claim 3, wherein the wireless signal containsdata representative of the temperatures of the item at both the firstlocation and the second location on the item.
 5. The method of claim 3,further comprising transmitting an additional wireless signal fromwithin the oven chamber to the location outside of the oven chamber, theadditional wireless signal containing data representative of thetemperature of the item at the second location on the item.
 6. Themethod of claim 1, wherein at least part of the transporting and sensingsteps occur simultaneously.
 7. The method of claim 1, further comprisingautomatically changing a rate at which the item is transported and atemperature within the oven chamber in response to the wireless signal.8. The method of claim 1, further comprising transporting the thermallyinsulative enclosure with the item within the oven chamber.
 9. Themethod of claim 1, wherein at least one of the sensing and transmittingsteps occurs during transport of the item.
 10. The method of claim 1,further comprising transmitting the wireless signal to the locationoutside of the oven chamber through a window.
 11. The method of claim 1,wherein the sensing and transmitting steps are carried out at discretepredetermined points within a heating cycle.
 12. The method of claim 1,wherein the sensing and transmitting steps are carried out continuouslyduring a heating cycle.
 13. The method of claim 1, further comprisingconveying the item through at least one of a dip tank and spray systembefore or after the item is heated in the oven chamber.
 14. A method ofwirelessly monitoring the temperature of an item through an itemtreatment process that includes heating the item in a heated chamber ofan oven, the method comprising: sensing a temperature of the item with afirst sensor at a first location on the item while the item is insidethe heated chamber; providing a thermally insulative enclosure insidethe heated chamber, the thermally insulative enclosure being at leastone of gas proof and water proof; providing a wireless transmitterinside the thermally insulative enclosure; transmitting a wirelesssignal from within the thermally insulative enclosure, the wirelesssignal containing data representative of the temperature of the item atthe first location on the item; and receiving the wireless signal at alocation outside of the oven.
 15. The method of claim 14, furthercomprising transmitting the wireless signal through the thermallyinsulative enclosure and through a window in the oven.
 16. The method ofclaim 14, further comprising storing data representative of thetemperature of the item at the first location, received from thewireless signal, in a memory.
 17. The method of claim 14, furthercomprising sensing a temperature of the item at a second location on theitem, and transmitting data representative of the temperature of theitem at the second location on the item via the wireless transmitter tothe location outside of the oven.
 18. The method of claim 14, furthercomprising transporting the item and the thermally insulative enclosurewithin the heated chamber, wherein at least one of the sensing andtransmitting steps occurs during transport of the item.
 19. The methodof claim 18, further comprising automatically changing at least one of arate at which the item is transported and a temperature within theheated chamber in response to the wireless signal.
 20. The method ofclaim 14, further comprising conveying the item through at least one ofa dip tank and a spray system before or after the item is heated in theheated chamber of the oven.